Development Squad coach Steve Potts said his side need to believe in themselves when they face a stern test away at Liverpool on Friday 20 March.
The Hammers travel to the inform Reds who are challenging for the Barclays U21 Premier League title. Currently, they sit in fourth, however they are just four points behind leaders Manchester United with two games in hand.
On the other hand, the Hammers are currently bottom, and Potts has challenged his side to prove that they are better than their league position suggests.
“I would like us to believe in ourselves, especially when we have the ball. There at a level now where they need to go out and show what they can do, individually and as a team.
“We’re a young team and we need to grow up quickly really, collectively we need to be a tighter unit than we were against Sunderland.
“Liverpool away is a very tough game for us. It’ll be a good test to see how we cope with it, hopefully they’ll rise to it.”
While Liverpool recorded an impressive 4-0 over the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground earlier in the season, Potts insisted that result bares little relevance to Friday night’s encounter.
“They beat us 4-0 earlier in the season but I don’t think it’ll play a factor tomorrow night. I remember that we had a few chances early on in that game and we didn’t take them. They managed to get a few goals before half time and then it was pretty much game over. They were ruthless that night for sure.
“I watched their game when they came to Upton Park earlier in the season. I didn’t see the game but I know they beat Chelsea at home recently. Having seen a few clips of them, they definitely have quality about them.”
Despite a few injury concerns among the Dev Squad, Potts can call upon Josh Cullen and Manny Onariase, both of whom were on the first team bench at the Emirates last weekend.
Speaking about their achievement, the former West Ham left back said: “I was delighted for them, it’s great. They’ve both done well this year and I think they deserve it. There was a few spaces in the squad with the injuries to the first team which allowed the boys to get in there.”
The Hammers travel to the inform Reds who are challenging for the Barclays U21 Premier League title. Currently, they sit in fourth, however they are just four points behind leaders Manchester United with two games in hand.
On the other hand, the Hammers are currently bottom, and Potts has challenged his side to prove that they are better than their league position suggests.
“I would like us to believe in ourselves, especially when we have the ball. There at a level now where they need to go out and show what they can do, individually and as a team.
“We’re a young team and we need to grow up quickly really, collectively we need to be a tighter unit than we were against Sunderland.
“Liverpool away is a very tough game for us. It’ll be a good test to see how we cope with it, hopefully they’ll rise to it.”
While Liverpool recorded an impressive 4-0 over the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground earlier in the season, Potts insisted that result bares little relevance to Friday night’s encounter.
“They beat us 4-0 earlier in the season but I don’t think it’ll play a factor tomorrow night. I remember that we had a few chances early on in that game and we didn’t take them. They managed to get a few goals before half time and then it was pretty much game over. They were ruthless that night for sure.
“I watched their game when they came to Upton Park earlier in the season. I didn’t see the game but I know they beat Chelsea at home recently. Having seen a few clips of them, they definitely have quality about them.”
Despite a few injury concerns among the Dev Squad, Potts can call upon Josh Cullen and Manny Onariase, both of whom were on the first team bench at the Emirates last weekend.
Speaking about their achievement, the former West Ham left back said: “I was delighted for them, it’s great. They’ve both done well this year and I think they deserve it. There was a few spaces in the squad with the injuries to the first team which allowed the boys to get in there.”